Rose plant named &#39;BENuno&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘BENuno is a new and distinct rose with hybrid tea-type, exhibition form flowers of a unique near-white blend. Flowers are born one to a stem and last well over a week as cut flowers. Fragrance is moderate. The thick foliage has shown very good disease resistance in national, outside testing. ‘BENuno’ is well suited as a garden perennial, a large container plant and for cut flowers.

CROSS REFERENCE

‘JACecond’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,369. The pollen parent for this newinvention was used in other successful crosses in this breeding program.Perhaps the one most closely resembling this new invention is ‘BENpete’,not patented. ‘BENpete’ has hybrid tea-type, exhibition form flowers,similar to those on this new invention. The new invention has near whiteflowers flushed with pink. ‘BENpete’ has predominantly red flowers withthe base and reverse of the petals being white. The blooms on ‘BENpete’are ½-inch smaller and generally have more petals but have been noted attimes to have similar petal counts to this new invention. Both plantsare upright growing: ‘BENpete’ is taller while this new invention is abit more compact and has stronger stems. ‘BENpete’ is more apt to havemultiple flowers per stem. Both cultivars offer good disease resistance.The foliage of ‘BENpete’ is smaller and darker green while on this newinvention they are closer together on the stems.

RIGHTS TO THE INVENTION

Be it known that Frank A. Benardella of Englishtown, N.J., claimsinvention of new and useful improvements in ROSE PLANT/var. ‘BENuno’ andfollowing is a clear and exact description of the same.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Rosa hybrida

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘BENuno’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy,bush type rose plant. This new variety is from a single seedling createdby Frank A. Benardella under controlled conditions in a greenhouse inEnglishtown, N.J., by crossing the following rose plants: an unnamed,unintroduced seedling created within the hybridizing program as the seedparent and ‘JACecond’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,369 as the pollen parent.

The primary goal of this breeding program is to produce unique roseswith award winning, hybrid tea form on plants having favorableattributes that will increase public appeal. To achieve this goal rosesare selected for this hybridizing program primarily for their awardwinning, hybrid tea form. Pertaining to this particular cross, bothparents were noted for their exhibition, hybrid tea form flowers thatare borne one to a stem. The pollen parent, ‘JACecond’, is noted for itsgood disease resistance.

The seed parent was a seedling that was created through a series ofcrosses within this breeding program. Its miniature, yellow blend bloomsdid have hybrid tea, exhibition form. The plant habit was miniature andcompact. This new invention is a larger flowered miniflora with whiteblend blooms.

The pollen parent, ‘JACecond’ is a red flowered hybrid tea rose, makingthe first and most noticeable difference from this new invention to bethe color of the flowers. ‘JACecond’ is also about two feet taller andwider with larger flowers than this new invention. Traits acquiredexplicitly from ‘JACecond’ are the quantity and shape of the pricklesand strong and upright plant habit.

Asexual reproduction by cuttings of this new variety in Englishtown,N.J., and Arroyo Grande, Calif., show that all distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar continually come true to form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of vigorous,hardy, bush-type rose plant with primarily white, exhibition, hybridtea-form flowers. This invention is distinguished from other white rosecultivars of which I am aware by the combination of its petal count,size of bud, full open bloom and reflex to the petals, lasting time forflowers on the plant and as cut flowers plus plant size and habit. Theaverage petal count for this new invention is 23 to 26. The open bloomsize is 3½ to 3⅝ inches across and 1¼ inch deep. The bud has a diameterof 9/16 inch with a height of 15/16 inch. Flowers last an average of 7days on the plant and 9 to 12 days as cut flowers. Petals have only aslight and gradual reflex. The plant grows upright to an average heightof 3 feet and width of about 2 feet.

The new invention is further characterized by:

-   -   Flowers primarily borne one to a strong stem;    -   Dark green, semi-glossy foliage;    -   Good Disease resistance;    -   Moderate, sweet fragrance;    -   Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots;    -   A plant that grows and flowers well in all climates, both in the        greenhouse and outdoors, providing decoration in the garden as a        perennial or in containers and is excellent for cut flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

There are three photographs in the accompanying drawing. The two largerphotographs were taken in October of flowers and stems taken from plantsgrown in Arroyo Grande, Calif., under plastic, under greenhouseconditions. Both of these photographs were taken inside under artificiallighting. The top one shows buds and flowers of this new invention inall stages of development as well as young and old foliage. The largelower photograph shows a flowering stem, typical leaves and prickles.The smaller inset photograph, taken outdoors in light shade in thespring, shows a profile view of a flower at exhibition stage from aplant of this new invention as grown under glass in a greenhouse inEnglishtown, N.J.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Following is a detailed description pertaining specifically to this newand distinct variety of rose plant as observed at around 4 years of ageafter having been grown under plastic in Arroyo Grande, Calif., insoiless mix on a constant feed program, in 8 and 10 inch nurserycontainers. All major colour plate identifications made are referring toThe Royal Horticulture Society Colour Chart except where common terms ofdefinition are employed.

-   Flowers:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Repeat bloomer with around 35 days between            bloom cycles.        -   Borne.—Singly; occasionally one or two smaller buds will            grow from the nodes immediately below the terminal flower on            the flowering stem.        -   Bud.—Form is ovate, having a rounded base and acuminate            apex. The diameter at its widest point is around 9/16 inch            and the height is around 15/16 inch. The color when the            sepals first divide is near 145C, a medium yellow-green.        -   Sepals.—There are five sepals that extend beyond the tip of            the bud by 7/16 to 8/16 inch. This extension from the apex            of the sepals as well as the foliar appendages are dark            green, near 137A and flushed with near 187A from the            Greyed-Purple group. The rest of the outside surface of the            sepals is a dark green, between 137B and 146B, with the            basal area and point of attachment to the receptacle            sometimes being near 146B or 146C, from the Yellow-Green            group. The surface is matte and there are stipitate glands            present. The two outermost sepals have only a couple of            single hairs and many stipitate glands. The margins are            lined with stipitate glands and one or two foliar appendages            along each. The two innermost sepals have many stipitate            glands and hairs that increase toward the margins to the            point of being downy along the edges and with ciliate            margins. The sepal in-between is a combination of the outer            and inner, with characteristics evenly divided along the            main vein. The three innermost sepals have soft prickles on            their central vein. The shape of the two outermost sepals is            lanceolate, one having a foliated attenuate apex and one            having a foliated lanceolate apex. The three innermost            sepals are ovate-lanceolate with a subulate apex having no            foliar appendages. The base of all sepals is truncate at the            union with the receptacle. The outer two sepals are usually            ¼ inch wide but one is usually ⅛ inch longer than the other,            varying from 1⅛ to 1⅜ inches long. The three innermost            sepals are usually 5/16 inch wide but length can vary from            13/16 inch to 1⅛ inches. The sepals roll back with the            petals until they are perpendicular to the receptacle,            remaining thus until the petals drop, and then rolling back            to the peduncle and remaining attached in this position            while the hips form.        -   Bloom.—When fully expanded the blooms measure 3½ to 3⅝            inches across and 1¼ inch deep. The upper profile remains            flat from when the bud first opens until the petals drop.            The lower profile is cupped when the flower first starts to            open and becomes flattened convex by the time the bloom is            fully expanded.        -   Petalage.—There are 23 to 26 petals and 2 to 8 petaloides.            The medium thick petals are overlapping. They last an            average of 7 days on the plant and 9 to 12 days or more as            cut flowers, before detaching cleanly from the receptacle.            The fragrance is moderate and sweet, fruity.        -   Petals.—Both surfaces of the petals are satiny and glabrous.            The shape of the outer petals is broad oblanceolate to broad            fan-shaped and becoming deltoid when mature. Intermediate            petals are obcordate and inner, young petals are rounded.            The apex is truncate with a sinuate margin that becomes            increasingly sinuate with age. The width of the outermost            petals varies from 1½ to 1 9/16 inches and the length varies            from 1 5/16 to 1 7/16 inches. When the flower first opens,            the outer petals are an off white, a color somewhat lighter            than that between 159D, from the orange white group, and            19D, Egyptian Buff, and flushed lightly with a color nearest            36C, Orient Pink, first around the outer edges and            increasing and deepening as the petals reflex and are            exposed to sunlight. The basal area is a very light Primrose            Yellow, near 4D, and a little darker, near 4B at the point            of attachment. The reverse is overall lighter, near 159D,            with the basil area nearest 13D and the point of attachment            near 4D. The inner petals at the center of the flower are            nearest 158D, from the Yellow-White group, right down to the            point of attachment that is light Primrose Yellow, near 4C.            The reverse is also near 158D down to the point of            attachment, which is 4D. When full blown all petal surfaces            are somewhat lighter than near 158D from the Yellow-White            group with reflexed upper surfaces being lightly flushed            with Neyron Rose, near 55B. Point of attachments have become            near 2D, from the Yellow group, and basal areas of outer            petals is near 2C There is little change as the flower fades            with only the basal areas and points of attachment becoming            lighter, both becoming nearest 4D on both sides of the outer            petals except near 2D for the basil area of the inside of            the outer petals. The general tonality is slightly off-white            with a pink blush. Tonality from a distance is white with a            pink blush.        -   Petaloides.—The color and texture of the petaloides is the            same as the inner petals. The size is extremely variable,            from long and narrow to short and wide. Width varies from ¼            inch to 9/16 inch. The shortest length found on the observed            plants is ⅝ inch and the longest found was on ones doubled            over, measuring up to 1¼ inches when straightened out. All            petaloides appear misshapen and incomplete, sometimes            appearing torn. Margins become increasingly sinuate with            maturity.        -   Peduncle.—The diameter of the peduncles is ⅛ inch. Lengths            are quite variable from 1¼ to 1 9/16 inches. If second            blooms are produced from the nodes immediately beneath a            terminal flower the peduncles are smaller with a diameter of            only 3/32 inch and the length varying from 15/16 inch to 1¼            inches. The aspect is generally straight and they are very            strong. Color is a medium yellow-green, near 146C, with no            anthocyanin coloration present. The surface is glossy with            numerous soft prickles up to ⅛ inch long and sometimes very            small, 1/32 inch long, and sometimes no prickles but always            glands and stipitate glands. There are no hairs near the            juncture with the receptacle but they gradually increase to            many hairs near the attachment to the stem. At the base of            the peduncle there often is a small simple leaf, varying in            size, and with stipules attached the entire length of the            petiole.        -   Receptacle.—The receptacle is funnel-shaped, measuring 5/16            inch at its widest part and 7/16 inch tall. Color is a            medium yellow-green, nearest 146C. The surface is matte and            glabrous. The top surface is circular, matte and glabrous,            with a diameter of ⅜ inch and light yellow, near 2D.-   Reproductive organs: STAMENS, FILAMENTS AND ANTHERS are arranged    regularly around the styles, attached to the outer rim of the    receptacle. The average quantity is 92. Filaments are quite undulant    and the length ranges form 7/16 to 9/16 inch. The lower half is near    4D, a very pale Primrose Yellow, and the upper half is near 55D, a    medium pink. The color of the anthers is near 19D, Egyptian Buff.    The color of the pollen is near 22B, Orange Buff. PISTILS, STYLES    AND STIGMAS are few in quantity, about 18. Styles are a medium    thickness, have a slight curve and are about ¼ inch long on the    mature flower. Their color is Rose Bengal, near 57C. The stigmas are    white, closest to 158D from the Yellow-White group. There are no    mature hips to observe at this time. Immature hips are globular.-   Plant: The plant of this new invention is uniformly branched with a    very upright habit. The mature height is 3 feet and width is 20 to    24 inches. Foliage is pinnately compound, most often with five    leaflets but sometimes with seven or three. Length of internodes is    variable and random. On main stems length varies from 1 inch to 1⅝    inches. On laterals, nodes are further apart, ranging from 1 3/16 to    2 1/16 inches. There are usually five or six nodes on flowering    stems, ranging from ⅝ inch to 1¼ inches, and often around mid-stem    there are two or three that are equidistant.    -   -   Leaflets.—The shape of the leaflets is elliptical with an            oval base and often with an obtuse apex. Terminal leaflets            have an acuminate base and apex. The size of the terminal            leaflets ranges from 1⅛ to 1 5/16 inches wide and 1 1/16 to            1½ inches long. Anthocyanin coloring is weak on new            leaflets, quickly disappearing, but strong on the petioles,            rachis and veins. Color of new leaflets is near 144A,            Lettuce Green, flushed lightly with near 181B from the            Greyed-Red group. The undersurface is near 183D, from the            Greyed-Purple group. Anthocyanin coloring is absent from the            mature leaflets. The upper surface is dark green, near 139A,            and the under surface is a little lighter, near 147B. The            upper surface is semi-glossy and glabrous. The underside is            matte, leathery and with the central vein protruding and            primary laterals protruding slightly. Serration on the edge            is simple with serratures becoming closer together towards            the apex. There is a gland at the tip of each serrate.        -   Petioles.—The diameter of the petiole is generally 1/16 inch            but may be as large as 3/32 inch. The length varies from ½            to ⅞ inch. Color along the ridges on new growth is Oxblood            Red, near 183C, and a little lighter, near 183D, in the            groove. The underside is also near 183D. On mature leaves            color along the ridges on the upper side is dark green, near            137A, and much lighter, near 145C from the Yellow-Green            group, in the groove. The under side is medium green, near            146D from the Yellow-Green group. There are a few stipitate            glands along the ridges on the upper side and some hairs in            the groove with more at the junction with the petiolules to            the basal leaflets. The underside is glabrous.        -   Rachis.—The length of the rachis on five-leaflet leaves            varies from 7/16 to ¾ inch. On a seven-leaflet leaf the            length averages 1⅛ inches. Color along the ridges on the            upper side on the mature leaf is dark green, near 147A from            the Yellow-Green group, and somewhat lighter, near 146C, in            the groove. The under surface is near 146B. There are            several stipitate glands along the ridges and a few hairs in            the groove, increasing in quantity at the juncture with the            petiolules. The under side has one to three prickles and            several stipitate glands.        -   Petiolules.—Color of the petiolules on the young leaf is            near 183D on both upper and lower surfaces. On the mature            leaf color is near 146C in the groove and the ridge is            between 146B and 147A. The underside is near 146D. The            length varies from 2/32 to 3/32 inch and from 9/32 to 15/32            inch to terminal leaflets. The upper surface is glabrous.            The under surface often has one gland or stipitate gland at            the juncture with the rachis of small leaflets, and a tiny            prickle at the juncture with the rachis of medium and large            leaflets.        -   Stipules.—Two stipules are at the base of each petiole as a            nearly identical pair. They are attached on either side of            the petiole for 13/32 to 14/32 inch and then angle out at            about 75 degrees, on a flat plane, for 2/16 to 3/16 inch.            The margins are somewhat sinuate and lined with stipitate            glands. The color of the adaxial side is a little lighter            than the adaxial surface of the leaflet, near 137B. The            abaxial surface is the same as the abaxial side of the            leaflet, near 147B.        -   Resistance.—This new invention has good disease resistance            to powdery mildew, blackspot and rust.        -   Wood.—The diameter of the main stalks is 13/32 inch. The            diameter of primary laterals is 9/32 inch and flowering            stems is ⅛ to 3/16 inch. New wood is glabrous and near 147B            from the Yellow-Green group. The color of the old wood is            slightly more yellow, near 146C, also from the Yellow-Green            group. Old wood has parallel rows of lenticels. Root            initiation from new wood cuttings is 8 to 12 days under            controlled greenhouse conditions.        -   Prickles.—The prickles of this new invention angle down and            are hooked downward with a gentle curve, some having the            profile of a pelican's bill. The bases are linear and 3/32            inch wide. The quantity of prickles on the main stalk is            none to three per inch of stem. These vary in size from 5/16            inch long on a base that is 11/16 inch long, to 3/16 inch            long on a base that is 7/32 inch long, to ⅛ inch long on a            base that is ⅛ inch long. On the laterals prickles are more            apt to be a uniform ¼ inch long on a base that is 5/16 inch            long, often congregating below the nodes. On the flowering            stems they also tend to congregate below the nodes and may            be 3 to 6 per inch of stem or 21 to 32 on five inches of            stem, most often having 22 per five inches of stem. When            young, the color is a medium yellow-green, closest to 151A.            When old, the color of the prickles is between 164B and            163C, both from the Greyed-Orange group.        -   Hardiness.—This new invention has been tested for hardiness            in zones 5 through 10 with winter protection recommended for            zones 7 and below. Plants performed well in testing in            American Horticultural Society heat zones 10 through 1.

1. A new and distinct variety of hardy rose plant, substantially asherein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty bythe uniquely colored, near-white blend flowers, having a moderatefragrance and borne primarily singly (one to a stem) on an upright anduniformly branched plant.